"What do you say to an angry…

A potato riddle has been cited in print since at least 1985:

Q: What do you say to an angry 300-pound baked potato?
A: Anything, just butter him up.

“what do you say to an angry potato? anything JUST BUTTER HIM UP” was posted on Twitter by Bethaany on October 6, 2012. “RT @gould7878: What do you say to an angry potato? Anything, just butter him up!” was posted on Twitter by SpudzNStuff on March 9, 2013.

Newspapers.com
1 February 1985, The Times (Munster, IN), “Only a dip appreciates potatoes” by Carol Kristl, pg. D-1, col. 6:
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO AN ANGRY 300-POUNT BAKED POTATO?
Anything, just butter him up.

Google Books
The Great Potato Book
By Meredith Sayles Hughes and E. Thomas Hughes
New York, NY: Macmillan
1986
Pg. 73:
Question: What do you say to an angry 300-pound baked potato?
Anything, just butter him up.

Newspapers.com
30 July 1989, Newsday (Long Island, NY), ‘Smiles,” Kidsday sec., pg. G1, col. 3:
What do you say to an angry 300-pound baked potato?
“Anything, just butter him up.”
—Noelle Fede, Massapequa Park

11 December 1999, The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec), “Quick Clicks,” pg. K2:
The online Potato Museum is devoted to the potato, including spud statistics and even a spud joke of the month.

Example: What do you say to an angry 300-pound potato?

Nothing, just butter him up.

Google Groups: soc.culture.irish
Bush bust on Mt Rushmore?
Terry McT
Feb 20, 2003, 9:27:10 PM
(...)
Q: What do you say to an angry, 300lb potato?
A: Anything, just butter him up!

Google Groups: pfunnies
Potato Puns
Scott Pfitzinger
Oct 15, 2007, 4:31:54 PM
(...)
What do you say to an angry 300-pound baked potato?
Anything, just butter him up.

Twitter
Datalore
@datalore_tv
From @harveyfrank: What do you say to an angry 300-pound baked potato? Anything, just butter him up. 😛
4:06 PM · Mar 5, 2008·Twitter Web Client

29 May 1999, The Sun (London, UK), “Have a Laugh,” pg. 19:
WHAT do you say to an angry 15 stone potato?
Nothing, just butter it up.
JOSH FELDMAN
London

Twitter
SPUD Muffin
@RUAcouchpotato2
Potato Joke 03
What do you say to an angry 300-pound baked potato? Anything, just butter him up.
7:22 AM · Nov 11, 2009·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Lynn@livelovelynn·Mar 28, 2011
Replying to @KlondikePotato
@KlondikePotato What do you do to keep a large, angry potato happy?
Butter him up.
#KlondikePotato

Google Groups: world_wide_with_god_minstry
Jokes for Wednesday April 20, 2011
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Apr 20, 2011, 1:34:28 AM
(...)
What do you say to an angry 300-pound baked potato?
Anything, just butter him up.

Twitter
Horny Potato Head
@sir_potatohead
What do you say to a big angry potato?
Anything, just butter him up.
1:58 PM · May 30, 2012·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
Bethaany
@bethaany6
Replying to @BBCR1
@BBCR1 @NiallOfficial #makenaillsmile what do you say to an angry potato? anything JUST BUTTER HIM UP 😛 i love you and gingers 😉 xxxxxxxx
9:52 AM · Oct 6, 2012·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
SpudzNStuff
@SpudzNStuff
Lol awesome! RT @gould7878: What do you say to an angry potato? Anything, just butter him up!
@SpudzNStuff #spudznstuff
11:35 AM · Mar 9, 2013·TweetCaster for iOS

Twitter
Marianna Cupcake
@Marmarxoxox
@DudeRaider what do you say to an angry potato? Anything, just butter him up! AYYYYYYYYY !!!!!!
11:52 PM · Jan 11, 2014·Twitter for iPhone

Twitter
SP Challenge MSU
@SPChallengeMSU
Q: What do you say to an angry baked sweet potato?
A: Anything, just butter him up.
12:21 PM · Apr 13, 2015·Twitter Web Client

Google Groups: grifnet
06/14/16 Grif.Net - Potato Q&A
Dr. Bob
Jun 14, 2016, 10:08:01 AM
(...)
Q: What do you say to an angry baked potato?
A: Anything, just butter him up.

Twitter
MythicalTurian
@MythicalTurian
Replying to @hituippi
What do you say to an angry potato?
...
Anything, just butter him up!
10:12 PM · Dec 8, 2020·Twitter for Android

Twitter
Amanda
@daisyfay13
Replying to @MrsTsPierogies
What do you say to a baked potato that’s angry? Anything you like, just butter it up
2:07 PM · Dec 15, 2020·Twitter Web App

Twitter
Coney I-Lander
@ConeyILander
*Warning: Corny Joke Alert*
Q: What do you say to a baked potato that’s angry?
A: Anything you like, just butter it up.
Baked potatoes loaded with our legendary chili and all the fixins available at 11th Street and Southroads!
5:10 PM · May 25, 2021·Sprout Social

Reddit—Dadjokes
Posted by u/GoodChadAndUgly October 15, 2021
How do you deal with an angry potato?
You butter it up.

“What do you say to an angry potato?”/“Anything, just butter him up.”